The Premier League champion is already condemned to a second successive group stage exit as it prepares to face Borussia Dortmund in Germany on Tuesday evening.

City can still qualify for the Europa League providing it beats Dortmund on Tuesday and Ajax doesn’t take all three points off Real Madrid.

"We are playing for pride on Tuesday,” Maicon told reporters. "But also for practical reasons, because we want to carry on playing in Europe, even if it is not in the top competition.

"The Europa League is important to us, so we need to try to stay in Europe until the end of the season if we can."

Despite a disappointing performances in the competition this season, the 31-year-old Brazilian defender, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, believes City has all the credentials to be European champion.

“There is nothing missing at City,” Maicon continued. “It is a great club working to get better in the Champions League. You can see us progressing on a monthly basis. The club is growing all the time and sooner or later City will win the Champions League because everyone is working for that.

“The big difference is that here you have to play in the Premier League as well as trying to do well in the Champions League. It is a very different competition. They are great players here, but they need more experience of the Champions League. You have to tune in to playing in Europe, as it is very different to playing in your home league.”